Community Spotlight for this month
My name is Laverne Mitchell I am the founder of the non-profit organization GANGS BE GONE. I started GANGS BE GONE (GBG) to make a difference in the lives of our youth no matter what there race or ethnic heritage. Our children are influenced and corrupted by gangs. Prevention and intervention in the lives of these children are the keys to winning our communities back. I was a mother of two; years back my 17 year old son Demetris was killed by gang members in a random drive-by shooting. My son was a great kid he had a 3.5 grade point average and was planning to go to college, play sports, have a family and be a productive and successful member of the community. That dream was taken from him by a random act of violence. The emotional scars, grief, anger, pain, and the reality of a dead child lost to gang violence cannot be put into words. I still had one child left and I had to be strong, and I pledged that gangs would not take him from me. He has gone on to be successful, have a family and is currently pursuing his goal to graduate with a Bachelor’s degree and be a teacher.
If you’ve watched the news, surfed the internet or seen the prison population numbers then you know gang membership has grown to unprecedented levels and they have the biggest business and most employees in San Diego. They have destroyed many lives, ended dreams and taken opportunities from our youth. Now, it is time we step up as a community take our kids back and get our kids out of gangs. It has taken me some time to figure out the best way to combat and fight gangs.
Recently, I was led to create GBG and our goal is to help prevent gangs from destroying anyone else’s life, dreams and future by reaching out to the youth in our community. Did you know that gangs only survive by replenishing their ranks with our children? They use our children and make our children serve their own cause of violence and destruction. I will continue to devote my time, energy and efforts to this fight, and take our children back. “WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE”.
Lastly, the best way to stop something bad from happening is to prevent it from happening. Our organization Gangs Be Gone, will educate the children, youth, young adults, and parents. We will conduct events to this end. WE NEED YOUR HELP. Thank you for reading.
*If you want to donate or become a partner with GANGS BE GONE please contact us at:
Gangs Be Gone
P.O. Box 2685
Spring Valley, Ca 91979
Phone: (619) 729-6837
Fax: (619) 670-8659
Email: gangsbegone@hotmail.com
